Matson union goes on strike

[mtskier]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
<!--BEGIN ARTICLE--> HONOLULU -- A labor union for Hawaii's biggest shipping company, Matson Navigation Co., went on strike Saturday.
The American Radio Association, which represents radio officers on Matson container ships, called a limited strike in Seattle, likely disrupting the loading and sailing schedule of the Hawaii-bound MV Maui.
Only one member of the union is assigned to the Maui, but the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers won't load the ship if they honor the picket line, said Charles Khim, an attorney for one of the other unions in talks with the shipping company. The ILWU is not involved in the contract talks.
"The net effect is that the ship will not be loaded," Khim said.
The Maui was scheduled to leave Seattle for Oakland, Calif., on Sunday and head to Honolulu on Tuesday night, said Matson spokesman Jeff Hull.
Two other ships - the MV Mahimahi and the MV Maunalei - were already traveling to Honolulu and were not affected by the strike.
It's unclear whether the strike would spread to other Matson container ships. Pickets are up only in Seattle, and operations at other ports are not affected, Hull said.
In addition to the longshoremen, another 15 members of two other unions in negotiations with Matson probably would not board the MV Maui, Khim said. Those unions are the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association.
"The whole point is without a full complement of crew, the ship cannot sail under U.S. Coast Guard laws," he said.
Matson may mount a court challenge against the right of longshoremen to honor the picket line, he said.
Both sides said Friday that negotiations between Matson and the three unions that represent captains and crewmen in San Francisco were making progress toward an attempt to reach a contract settlement. Those talks continued Saturday, Hull said.
The contracts for the three unions expired June 15. The unions represent about 1,000 to 1,500 members eligible to work for Matson.
Matson is a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. It's the Hawaii's largest trans-Pacific shipping company, carrying about two-thirds of the containerized freight to the Islands.

[Capt. Fran]

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420a...on_unions.html

Matson strike ends quickly
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU -- It was back to business for Hawaii's biggest shipping company after a tentative contract settlement was reached, ending a short-lived strike.

The American Radio Association called the strike Saturday morning in Seattle, where Matson Navigation Co.'s container ship MV Maui was to be loaded for a voyage to Hawaii.

In a show of support, stevedores, who are members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, refused to cross a picket line set up by the union. The ILWU wasn't part of the contract talks.

The strike came to an end about 12 hours later when the union, two fellow unions and the company reached the tentative agreement during contract talks in San Francisco.

Union members are to hold a contract ratification vote in about two weeks. Terms of the pact weren't disclosed.

Charles Khim, a labor attorney representing the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, said the unions wanted to preserve safety, maintain jobs and eliminate a two-tier wage system for better parity in pay.

"I think we've substantially met the goals of the membership" and are "cautiously optimistic" that the membership will accept the agreement, he said.

The contract for MM&P, the ARA, which represents radio officers on Matson container ships, and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, expired June 15. The unions represent about 1,000 to 1,500 members eligible to work for Matson.

Matson, a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin Inc., is Hawaii's largest trans-Pacific shipping company, carrying about two-thirds of the containerized freight from the mainland to the islands.

[Moguldan]

Hmm. I was a cadet on the Maui. I’m glad to see all was resolved and the ship is again sailing.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

[domer]

The American Radio Association, which represents radio officers on Matson container ships, called a limited strike in Seattle, likely disrupting the loading and sailing schedule of the Hawaii-bound MV Maui.
Only one member of the union is assigned to the Maui, but the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers won't load the ship if they honor the picket line.

Wait, one radio operator shuts down the whole ship?? Good for him! I'm just a bit surprised since 99% of his colleagues were fired from their jobs years ago.